Film Lovers Unite

Dallas International Film Festival reveals star-laden lineup for 2024

The 18th Dallas International Film Festival will take place from April 25-May 2 at Violet Crown Cinema in West Village Uptown, featuring screenings of more than 100 films, Q&A sessions, and panels with filmmakers and actors, and special events.

The full lineup features a mix of feature films boasting big-name stars and filmmakers alongside documentaries and lesser-knowns making their way in the movie industry

Headlining the festival will be the world premiere of the documentary Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot, part of ESPN Films’ “30 for 30” series, which will be the opening night film on Thursday, April 25 at Majestic Theatre. The film charts the history of the Frisco-based trick shot group and where they will go in the future.

Closing on the festival on May 2 will be A24’s Sing Sing, starring recent first-time Oscar nominee Colman Domingo. Based on the real-life program Rehabilitation Through the Arts, the film features a cast that includes formerly incarcerated actors and alumni of the program.

Other notable films being screened include The Dead Don't Hurt, a Western from writer/director Viggo Mortensen starring Vicky Krieps and Mortensen; Ezra, a comedy/thriller starring Bobby Cannavale and Robert DeNiro; I Saw the TV Glow, a horror starring rising star Justice Smith; The Idea of You, a romcom starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine; and Print It Black, a documentary about how journalists in Uvalde, Texas responded to the school shooting at Robb Elementary.

“We always try to ensure the festival features important and interesting stories, and this year’s schedule abounds with the kind of films that remind us why we love watching movies,” said James Faust, DIFF Artistic Director, in a statement. "I could say this every year, but this program might be my favorite ever.”

Photo courtesy of Dude Perfect

Dude Perfect: A Very Long Shot will be the opening night film at the 2024 Dallas International Film Festival.

Festival passes, which range from $100-$500, are now on sale at dallasfilm.org/diff; individual tickets will go on sale at a later date.

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Rivers wild

Ethan Hawke narrates new documentary that deep-dives into Texas rivers

Cropped still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The Rio Grande is one of the stunning subjects of Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers.

One Texas film icon passes the torch to another for a deep dive on Texas' river ecosystems in the upcoming documentary Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers. Matthew McConaughey narrated the original 2022 film, Deep in the Heart: A Texas Wildlife Story. Now Ethan Hawke narrates the follow-up, which will be in theaters September 25.

Deep in the Heart 2 is directed by Ben Masters, a nature-obsessed Texan who was born and raised in Amarillo and has followed wildlife around the state and beyond. Working with his crew at Fin & Fur Films, Masters explores the Rio Grande, the Sabine River, and the Neches River, a press release says, coming across otters, turkeys, alligator snapping turtles, and more.

This underwater shot was taken in San Marcos.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The original Deep in the Heart took a broad view of Texas — both its landscapes and their inhabitants — while the "sequel," as the release calls it, specifically highlights water. Conservation is an important angle, and viewers will get a chance to consider how they could connect with and protect the ecosystems on their screens.

"Most of my favorite memories are on Texas Rivers," said Masters in the release. "I grew up on the Canadian, fell in love on the Brazos, got married on the Guadalupe, found adventure on the Rio Grande, and am raising my kids on the Colorado."

The filmmaker says that spending three years filming his natural subjects gave him "a newfound appreciation" for rivers and how distinct they are from one another.

Amazing cinematography was a hallmark of the original film, and the sequel offers more beautiful shots.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

"We spent months filming mountain lions on the Pecos, snapping turtles on the Neches, otters on the Sabine, fatmuckets on the Llano, and whooping cranes in the Guadalupe's Estuary," Masters said. "Editing the majesty of Texas Rivers into 80 minutes was a huge challenge, and I'm just incredibly grateful to work with such a talented team of cinematographers, editors, producers, and musicians."

Hawke, born in Austin and raised in Fort Worth, is known for acting in the Dead Poets Society, Gattaca, the Richard Linklater films Boyhood and Blue Moon, and more. He has taken up causes in environmental advocacy for years and appeared in other ecology-focused films, including the intense fictional First Reformed (2018) and a goofy anti-littering PSA with TxDOT (2023).

Some unexpected guests in the Rio Grande.Still from Deep in the Heart 2: Texas Rivers

The film was made in association with H-E-B, a regular supporter of ecological documentaries and initiatives, and conservation organization Texan by Nature. Other collaborators include producer Josh Winkler, editor Sam Klatt, assistant editor Chet Stefan, and composer Noah Sorota. The musical score is performed by Dallas Chamber Symphony.

animals documentaries ecology ethan hawke film matthew mcconaughey movies nature texas wildlife